Means for making concrete structures in forms



April 27, 1937. I w. A. WHITING MEANS FORMAKING CONCRETE STRUCTURES IN FORMS Filed May 22, 1 936 v Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR. MAKING CONCRETE STRUC- TURES 1N FORMS Application May 22, 1936, Serial No. 81,215

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved means of working concrete in forms having considerable height, wherein a rod of comparatively small cross sectional areais rotated in the concrete adjacent to the form thus providing a smooth and dense concrete finished product, especially in that portion of the concrete against the form, something which, to my knowledge cannot be successfully done by any other method. In concrete structures which have been poured informs the face of the concrete is ordinarily pitted with holes formed by air and water pockets. This is undesirable, particularly in the case of concrete pipe sections where it is desirable to have a smooth compact surface on the pipe.

I have found that in the use of such rods in forms of great height, where the concrete is necessarily of great depth, many difficulties are encountered in the operation of the .rods. The great mass of concrete through which the rod operates slows up the lateral movement of the rod, thus making the operation a lengthy one as compared to the case where the rod is workin through a relatively shallow body of concrete. There is also a tendency for the rod to creep away from the side of the form where there is a great depth of concrete.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to overcome the difficulty of operating such tools 30 of the rotating rod type in deep concrete by providing a tool capable of performing efllciently under such adverse conditions. Ordinarily these rods are of various forms in cross section, being round or square or of spiral form and are usually made of iron either pointed or squared off at the lower end. I have found that by using a ball on the lower end of the rod, preferably of greater diameter than the diameter of the rod, the ball having a hardened face as distinguished from the relatively softer iron of the rod, and that by employing a flexible rod or one having one or more universal joints therein, I am able to overcome all of the dimculties of the prior devices. The use of the ball on the end of the rod enables the rod to progress through the concrete laterally was formerly possible. The ball in conjunction with the flexible rod materially increases the effl-' ciency of this type of device. The ball, or an enlarged rounded end portion, may also .be used with a 'rod not having joints and even in such adaptation better results are obtained than was formerly possible with common forms of rods. For use in concrete forms of great height,'such 66 as for instance pipe sections of eighteen or twenty much easier and at a much greater speed than feet, I prefer to use the form of rod having projections on one side which propel the rod laterally through the concrete when it is revolved. The rod moves laterally along the form due to the fact that during its rotation the off-center portions of the rod successively engage the concrete next to the form and the concrete in the 'main body of the material, and due to the fact that there is less resistance in the concrete next to the form than in the concrete near the center of the form, the rod propels itself along adjacent to the side of the form thoroughly tamping the concrete and removing the air and water bubbles from that portion of the concrete surface adjacent the form.

Referring to the drawing which is for illustrative purposes only;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the position of the rod in the concrete; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic elevation showing the position of the rod by dotted lines in the concrete; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the rod adjacent the outer form; I

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan similar to Fig. 3 showing the rod adjacent the inner form;

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are elevational views of different forms of rods.

With further reference to the drawing, numeral 10 indicates the outer form and II the inner form, both being circular and mounted on a base l2, the concrete being designated at l3. l5 designates the rod of the type shown in Fig. 5, having a joint l6 and a ball H at its lower end. l8 designates a motor, or other means for rotating the rod having handles IQ for the convenience of the operator. 20 designates reinforcing members in the concrete. It will be noted that the rod of my invention may be easily operated where the reinforcing members may obstruct considerable portions of the concrete. 2| indicates a universal joint on the motor shaft alber of joints in the rod orI may use a flexible rod as shown in Fig. 6 having a ball or rounded end I1. The forms of rods shown in Figs. '7 and 8 show the forms particularly adapted for use in deep concrete and are what I have termed offset on one side of the vertical axis of the rod.

In Fig. 6, 25 indicates an offset lower end on the rod l5 terminating in a ball I! andin Fig. '7 I have shown a similar rod provided with a block or projection 26 on the same side of the rod as the offset portion. The ball indicated at I! may be made of any desirable material, but should'preferably have a hard surface in order to prevent undue wearing of that portion.

In using my rod made in the forms above described the ball on the end of the rod rides on the base l2 of the form structure and rolls against the vertical form. By placing the rod in the concrete with the lower ball end of the rod in the lead by exerting a slight pressure on the upper end of the rod the rod bends as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 and travels forwardly in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the rod following the form as there is less resistance in the concrete against the form than in the body of the concrete. I have found that the offset rod as shown in Fig. 6 and the rod as shown in Fig. '7

with the block or projection 26 causes the rod to propel itself through the concrete due to the difference in density of the concrete against the form and in the body. With the use of all forms of rod shown herein 80 I find that the face of the concrete is firm and compact and free of holes which as heretofore noted is particularly desirable in concrete pipe construction and in addition to the production of a finished surface I have found that the action 35 of the rod due to its rotation causes the body of concrete to become more compact or dense. This latter eflect mentioned of compacting the body of the concrete as well as the face of the concrete is an important feature and while such eifect to some extent takes place during the movement of the rod against the inner face of the form it is to be understood that the rod may be moved throughout the body of the concrete for compacting the entire body of the concrete. In using the rods, above described, I have found that a whipping action takes place which is more pronounced when the rod is bent as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. This whipping action of the rods thoroughly agitates the concrete and relieves the concrete of voids and air pockets resulting in a dense body of concrete.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for producing a smooth dense surface on concrete deposited against forms comprising: a flexible rod; projections on said rod at one side thereof; a ball on the lower end of the rod; and means for rotating said rod on its longitudinal axis in the concrete adjacent the form,

2. A device for producing a smooth dense surface on concrete deposited against forms comprising: a flexibly jointed rod; a ball on the end of the rod; and means for rotating said rod on its longitudinal axis in the concrete adjacent the form.

3. A device for producing a smooth dense surface on concrete deposited against forms comprising: a flexibly -jointed rod; said rod having its lower end ofiset and having projections on the offset side of the rod; and a round hardened end on the offset end of the rod.

4. The method of compacting a body of concrete in a form which consists in inserting a flexible rod into the concrete the lower end of the rod engaging the bottom of the form, rotating the rod and exerting sufiicient pressure on the top of the rod to cause the same to bend between its ends thereby producing a whipping action of the rod. WILLIAM A. WHITING. 

